Stopping, calming, and resting are preconditions for healing.

-Thich Nhat Hanh

Why is pausing important?

No matter how you spend your time, it is important to pause every so often. When we think of our health—and of Whole Health—it can easily become a question of “What do I need to do?” It is normal to get caught up in a routine, or to really want to push through a project or activity. However, in order to make the most of an experience—to learn from it or to solve problems or to improve on something we are doing—it can help to take a break. 

Taking a break may mean that we are changing over to a different activity for a little while, like trying to get some movement after we have been sitting. It can also mean taking time for “not-doing.” It can help to stop for a moment to notice, to be aware of what is going on with our thoughts and our bodies. This does not mean that you just change over to watching TV or other ways of distracting yourself. It is not about avoiding or escaping, but about being more fully aware of what is going on. Sometimes that is not easy, because unwanted thoughts and feelings can come up during a pause. You should only do it when you feel ready to. 

Pausing in a healthy way can help us handle the challenges life gives us with greater skill. It keeps us from living life on auto-pilot. It can give us room to be inspired with new ideas or to see new opportunities. The key is to find a healthy balance between activity and inactivity.

How can pausing and taking breaks improve my health?

When things are busy around us, the odds are it will affect our body and state of mind. With busy-ness and high activity levels comes stress. Too much stress puts our bodies into ‘fight or flight’ mode. Our body functions rev up so we can escape danger, even if there is nothing dangerous going on. That state might be helpful if you are being chased by a lion that wants to eat you, but it is harmful if you stay in that revved up state all day long.